Animal-exterminator



N0. 6l2,006. Patented Oct. 4, I898. C. K. MYERS.

ANIMAL EXTEBMINATOR.

(Application filed Dec. 10, 1897.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

CHARLES K. MYERS, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

ANIAMALI-EVXTERMYINATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,006, dated October 4, 1898.

Application filed December 10, 1897. Serial No. 661,376. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- 1 7 Be it known that I, CHARLES K. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AnimaLExterminators; and I-do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful apparatus for exterminating groundsquirrels, gophers, moles, or similar animals; and it consists in the arrangement of parts and details of construction, as will be hereinafter fully set forth in the drawings, and described and pointed out in the specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive apparatus which may be easily carried from place to place and operated by hand, within which may be generated a gas poisonous to animal life, which gas may be ejected or discharged therefrom through a flexible connection into the groundholes of the animal, so as to fill the holes or ground-tunnels with the poisonous gas in order to cause the death of the animals lodged therein.

In order to fully comprehend the invention, reference must be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, forming a part of this application, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side View thereof, the flexible connection for conveying the gas from the generator to the ground-holes being shown connected to the generator. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the piston, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the piston.

The letter A is used to indicate any suitable base, and A what I shall term the generator, which is provided with a centrallydepending lug a, said lug fitting within a socket or recess co in the upper face of the base A. The generator is also provided near its upper edge with a screw-threaded outletboss a which when the apparatus is not in use is closed by the cap I), attached to the generator, for convenience, by the chain 1?.

Upon the generator rests the piston-cylinder B, which is provided with a contracted downward extension 13'. This extension B fits through an opening formed in the top of face of the packing-ring.

face of the cross-piece, Fig. 1.

the generator and extends downwardly within the chamber 13 of the generator to near the bottom thereof, Fig. 1. The extension B is open at its lower end and its diameter is about one-third of that of the piston-cylinder, the cylinder, extension, and generatorbeingpreferably of a cylindrical form.

Within the cylinder B is fitted to work the open piston B which is provided on its under face with two inwardly movable or opening segment-valves b These valves are attached to the under face of the piston, preferably by means of the. strap-hinges cl, the inward or downward movement of the valves being limited by the connecting portion d of the strap-hinges.

In order that a snug or'air-tight joint may be made between the piston and the inner Wall of the piston-cylinder B, I secure to the outer edge of the piston a packingaingdi of leather, rubber, or other suitable material. The said packing-ring extends below the piston, Fig.4, and is held pressed outward against the inner wall of the piston-cylinder by means of the spring-ring d which fits'through the eyelets or staples f, projecting from the inner The pressure of spring-ring d is sufficient to hold the packing-ring firmly pressed against the inner wall of the piston-cylinder, so as to compensate for frictional Wear of the packing-ring by the reciprocating movement of the piston.

To the upper face of the pistonis secured the bridge-plate G, and to said bridge-plate is attached at its lower end the piston-stem O, which in the present case is formed inte gral withthe said bridge-plate. The upper end of the piston-stem extends through the cross-piece O and is attached to the handle 0 This cross-piece 0 which is of wood, rests upon the piston-cylinder B, and the cylinder is prevented from turning or movement during the working of the apparatus by means of the spurs f, secured to and upwardly projecting therefrom, entering into the under The crosspiece C is secured to the base A by means of the vertical tie-rods D, which extend through the said base and cross-piece. These tierods hold the parts firmly together and prevent the piston-cylinder moving from the generator, the cross-piece 0 being locked by the thumb-serews f which screw onto the projecting screw-threaded end of the tie-rods. The tie-rods fit in guide-sockets h, cut in the edge of the cover of the generator, in order that the said generator may be held against movement.

The piston-cylinder and generator may be of any suitable size; but for ordinary farm use and to permit of ready handlingI prefer to make the air-cylinder about nine inches in diameter and of such length as will permit of a twelve-inch stroke to the piston, the generator being slightly greater in diameter than the piston-cylinder and of sufficient height to permit of at least one gallon of gasolene or other fluid to be placed therein.

When the apparatus is desired for use, the requisite amount of gasolene or otherfiuid is placed in the generator through the opening in the top thereof and the parts secured together, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The cap Z) is then removed from the boss a and connection made between the generator and the ground-hole of the animal by means of the pipe or hose D, one end of which screws onto the boss ta the free end being inserted a suitable distance into the groundhole. The ground surrounding the inserted end of the pipe or hose should be closed to prevent escape of gas. As the piston is moved upward the "alves 0 open inwardly and permit air to flow therethrough into the pistoncylinder. Upon the downstroke of the piston the valves are closed and the air within the cylinder is forced downward within the generator through the extension B of the piston-cylinder and forced upward through the gasolene or other fluid within the said generator. As conveyed through the gasolene the air is intermixed therewith, and the gas thus generated is expelled through the outlet-opening and conveyed into the groundholes by the connecting pipe or hose. The gas circulating in the ground tunnels or holes kills the animals therein. As approximately seven hundred and fifty cubic inches of air are thrown with each stroke of the piston, it

will be seen that very little time is required to exterminate animal life in the ground-tunnels.

While the apparatus is mainly devised for use in connection with the extermination of gro Lind-animals destructive to farm products, it is equally as well adapted for the spraying of orchards or vineyards for the killing of parasites.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure protection in by Letters Patent, is

1. In an animal-exterminating apparatus, the combination with the generator for the holding of gasolene or other fluids, of the piston-cylinder mounted thereon, a reduced extension projecting downwardly from the eylinder into and Within a short distance of the bottom of the generator, an outlet-opening in the generator, a piston working in the piston-cylinder, inwardly-opening valves connected to the piston, devices for imparting reciprocating movement to the piston, and of a coupling connection with the outlet-opening of the generator through which the gas is con-- veyed.

2. In an apparatus of the described character, the combination with the base, of the generator secured thereon, the piston-cylinder mounted upon the generator, a reduced extension projecting from the said cylinder and extending into the generator to within a short distance of its bottom, the piston working within the cylinder, inwardlyopening valves secured to the piston, devices for imparting reciprocating movement to the piston, cross-piece extending across the pistoncylinder, and of the tie-rods forming connection between the base and said cross-piece.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 21th day of November, 1897.

CHARLES K. MYERS.

Vitnesses:

LEE 1). CRAIG, N. A. Acxnn. 

